PHILADELPHIA – Glendon Rusch is not being dangled. Or shopped.
That’s the word from Met GM Steve Phillips, who addressed trade speculation concerning the left-hander.
“He’s not somebody we’re calling teams saying, ‘What do you want to give us for Glendon Rusch?’ ” Phillips said. “Like any player, we will listen to clubs that have interest in our players.
“But all of this stuff that we are shopping him, dangling him or looking to trade him is wrong.”
Rusch’s agent called Phillips earlier in the week, which is not uncommon this time of year. The Met GM also said Al Leiter is not being actively shopped.
“We’re buyers and sellers, which is different from what we’ve been before,” he said. “If we add, it would be with the idea that we’re improving our team now, but also in the future as well.”
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The Mets outrighted Donne Wall to Triple-A Norfolk and recalled Jerrod Riggan late Friday. The reason: an overworked bullpen needed a fresh arm, and Wall had mopped up for three innings in Friday’s 10-1 loss.
“There was no plan to do it,” Met manager Bobby Valentine said. “[Wall] said very little because he was caught off-guard.”
Wall was 0-3 with a 5.65 ERA. He has 72 hours to accept the assignment, or declare free agency and forfeit a guaranteed paycheck. Indications are he’ll head to the minors.
This is Riggan’s fifth recall this season.
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Robin Ventura sat yesterday in order to keep Joe McEwing in the lineup. McEwing (2-for-4) was nailed by a pitch on the left hand in the top of the ninth, but won’t cede his starting job.
“Actually, it feels pretty good,” he said. “Every at-bat I focus and concentrate so much. I don’t want to give away anything.”
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Rick Reed’s bruised left wrist won’t stop him from throwing on the side today. He said he feels good and his next scheduled start is Wednesday. …
Rey Ordonez hit four previous major-league homers – on Sept. 19, 1996, at Philadelphia, against Rich Hunter; on Sept. 2, 1997, against Toronto’s Kelvim Escobar; on Sept. 15, 1998, at Houston in the first game of a double-header off Shane Reynolds; and on Sept. 18, 1999 against Philly’s Carlton Loewer.